The 2025 adaptation of The Diary of Anne Frank: Adapted For Younger Readers (Her-story) is the "on-ramp" version of the most famous diary in history—specifically designed to give 8-to-12-year-olds the emotional core of Anne’s experience without the heavy-duty puberty talk or the graphic trauma of the Holocaust’s final chapters. It’s a smart, intentional edit that prioritizes Anne the girl over Anne the symbol, making it a perfect first encounter for kids who aren't quite ready for the unedited Definitive Edition.
The Diary of Anne Frank: Adapted For Younger Readers (Her-story) is a streamlined, age-appropriate introduction to the Secret Annex that focuses on Anne’s optimism and daily life while filtering out the more "mature" anatomical and tragic details. It’s the ideal bridge to our best books for kids list for parents looking to introduce hard history through a relatable, human lens.
Let’s be real: the original Diary of a Young Girl is a masterpiece, but it’s also a raw document of a teenager going through... well, everything. For a 9-year-old who is just starting to learn about World War II, the original text can sometimes feel like a two-front war between "Wait, what is she talking about with her body?" and "Wait, everyone dies?"
The Her-story adaptation, released in late 2025, solves this by acting as a curated experience. It keeps the claustrophobia of the Annex, the tension of the "thieves in the night," and Anne’s soaring ambitions to be a writer. What it trims are the lengthy ruminations on physical changes and the most soul-crushing details of the Bergen-Belsen aftermath that usually occupy the epilogues of older editions. It’s not "Anne Frank Lite"—it’s Anne Frank for the age group that actually identifies with her spirit before they have to deal with her tragedy.
This version is part of the "Her-story" series, which focuses on the internal lives of historical women. Because of that, the book doubles down on Anne’s personality. You get:
- The Roommate Drama: The petty squabbles with Mr. Pfeffer (Dussel) and her mother are all there. Kids in the 8-12 range thrive on "that’s so unfair" energy, and this book leans into it.
- The Creative Spark: This edition highlights her "tales" and her essays more than previous versions. It frames her as a working writer, which is a great hook for kids who like to journal.
- The Tension: It doesn't sanitize the fear. The "hush" of the Annex during office hours is described vividly enough to make a kid hold their breath.
If your kid is in that sweet spot of our digital guide for elementary school, they’ll find a friend in this version of Anne. She’s funny, she’s a bit of a brat sometimes, and she’s incredibly observant.
Some purists might clown on the idea of an "adapted" diary, but for an intentional parent, the edits in Her-story are actually quite surgical.
- The Anatomy Lessons: In the original, Anne is very curious about her own body and the changes of puberty. In this version, that’s largely replaced with a general "growing up is weird" sentiment. If you aren't ready to have the "Where do babies come from?" talk in the middle of a Holocaust history lesson, this is your win.
- The Graphic Epilogue: Most editions end with a brutal summary of the camps. Her-story focuses on the arrest and the legacy, keeping the focus on how Anne’s voice survived even when she didn't. It’s still sad—it’s the Holocaust—but it won't leave a 4th grader staring at the ceiling for three hours at bedtime.
The best way to deepen this experience isn't to lecture them on history—it's to talk about the logistics. Kids this age are obsessed with how things work.
The Conversation Starter: Ask them, "If you had to live in our attic for two years and couldn't even flush the toilet during the day, what's the one thing you’d miss the most?"
It sounds simple, but it bridges the gap between a historical figure and a real person. It turns the book from a "school assignment" into a study of human resilience. For more on navigating these types of heavy topics, check out how to talk to kids about hard history.
If this book clicks, don't let the momentum stop. There’s a whole world of "history through a kid’s eyes" that hits the same notes:
This is the gold standard for this age group. It’s about the Danish resistance and a family trying to smuggle their Jewish friends to Sweden. It’s tense, beautiful, and perfectly calibrated for the 9-11 crowd.
If they liked the "Her-story" angle of a girl fighting against a system that wants to keep her small, this is the move. It swaps the Secret Annex for NASA, but the "smart girl in a room that doesn't want her there" energy is identical.
Save this for the 11-12-year-olds who are ready for something "heavier." It’s narrated by Death, but it’s ultimately a story about the power of words and books—just like Anne’s diary.
If the part of Anne’s diary they loved was the writing and the internal voice, this memoir-in-verse is a masterclass. It’s about growing up in the 60s and 70s and finding your voice as a writer.
The hardest part of this book isn't the content—it's the context. Most kids today know the "ending" of Anne Frank before they open the book. If your kid is sensitive to "sad endings," remind them that the success of the book is that we are still talking about her 80 years later. The Nazis wanted her forgotten; the fact that your kid is reading her words on a couch in 2026 means Anne won.
Q: What age is the Her-story Anne Frank appropriate for? The sweet spot is ages 8 to 12. It’s written at a 4th-5th grade reading level, and the content is specifically edited to be "middle grade" friendly.
Q: Is this version better than the original for a 10-year-old? "Better" is subjective, but it’s certainly easier. It removes the "awkward" puberty sections that can distract younger readers from the historical significance of the diary.
Q: Does it mention the concentration camps? Yes, but it doesn't dwell on the graphic details of the "Final Solution." It focuses on the arrest and the fact that Anne did not survive, but it keeps the narrative focus on her life in the Annex.
Q: Is it okay for a sensitive 9-year-old? It’s the most "okay" version of this story you’ll find. Because it focuses on her dreams and her writing, it feels more like a biography of a girl than a countdown to a tragedy.
The Diary of Anne Frank: Adapted For Younger Readers (Her-story) is a rare adaptation that actually understands its audience. It doesn't talk down to kids, but it doesn't throw them into the deep end of 1940s trauma without a life vest. It’s a solid, intentional choice for a first foray into Holocaust history.
- For more historical picks, see our best books for kids list.
- Moving into the teen years? Check out our digital guide for middle school.
- Ask our chatbot for more historical fiction recs
